TANK OF A MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A VOLUME ELEMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a tank, in particular a fuel tank, for receiving a liquid in a motor vehicle, comprising an outer wall that forms an internal space for receiving the liquid, at least one volume element situated in the internal space for receiving gas, in particular air, a gas-guiding line between the volume element and the surroundings of the tank for changing the volume of the volume element, and at least one stabilizing assembly for minimizing stresses at kinks of the volume element when evacuating the volume element.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A tank, for receiving a liquid in a motor vehicle, comprising: an outer wall that forms an internal space for receiving the liquid; at least one volume element situated in the internal space for receiving gas, in particular air; a gas-guiding line between the volume element and the surroundings of the tank for changing the volume of the volume element; and at least one stabilizing assembly for minimizing stresses at kinks of the volume element when evacuating the volume element.

21. The tank according to claim 20, wherein the stabilizing assembly includes at least one internal body in the interior of the volume element, wherein the volume element in the evacuated state rests against this internal body.

22. The tank according to claim 21, wherein the internal body is elastically deformable.

23. The tank according to claim 21, wherein the internal body is a closed, gas-filled bladder.

24. The tank according to claim 21, wherein the internal body is made of an elastically deformable material, preferably an open-pore foam or an elastomer.

25. The tank according to claim 21, wherein the internal body is designed as a resilient structure, preferably as an elastically deformable hollow body.

26. The tank according to claim 21, wherein the internal body is designed as a frame that preferably has a round, oval, or polygonal shape.

27. The tank according to claim 20, wherein the stabilizing assembly includes at least one stabilizing frame that is fixedly connected to the volume element.

28. The tank according to claim 20, wherein the stabilizing assembly is formed by the volume element and an outer bladder that encloses the volume element as a barrier against hydrocarbons.

29. The tank according to claim 20, wherein the stabilizing assembly has a coating of the volume element on its inner side and/or outer side, wherein the coating includes an elastic material, preferably fluororubber (FKM), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), or fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ).

30. The tank according to claim 20, wherein the stabilizing assembly includes at least one elastic tension element that extends through the internal space and is situated between the volume element and the outer wall.

31. The tank according to claim 20, wherein the stabilizing assembly is formed by a two-shell design of the volume element, having a rigid first shell and a flexible second shell.

32. The tank according to claim 31, wherein in the inflated state of the volume element the rigid first shell forms a larger volume than does the flexible second shell.

33. The tank according to claim 31, wherein: the flexible second shell is fastened, preferably integrally bonded, to the rigid first shell; or the entire volume element is formed by a bladder, wherein for forming the fixed shell, a portion of the bladder always rests against a shell frame and is fastened to the shell frame.

34. The tank according to claim 20, wherein the stabilizing assembly includes a shutoff valve in the line for maintaining a residual volume of the volume element.

35. The tank according to claim 34, wherein the stabilizing assembly includes a control device that is designed to close the shutoff valve when the residual volume is reached.

36. A tank for receiving a liquid in a motor vehicle, comprising: an outer wall that forms an internal space for receiving the liquid; a volume element situated in the internal space for receiving gas, in particular air; a gas-guiding line between the volume element and the surroundings of the tank for changing the volume of the volume element; wherein the volume element is exchangeably situated in the internal space, and the outer wall includes a service opening that is designed for removing and reinserting the volume element from/into the internal space.

37. The tank according to claim 36, wherein the volume element is attached to the line via a connecting element that is actuatable without tools.

38. The tank according to claim 36, wherein the line leads through a cover that closes the service opening, and the volume element is fastened to the cover the line.

Description

[0063] Further particulars, advantages, and features of the present invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, which show the following:

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a volume element, and an internal body designed as a gas-filled bladder,

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a volume element, and an internal body made of an elastically deformable material,

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a volume element, and an internal body designed as a resilient structure,

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a volume element, and an internal body designed as a round or oval frame,

[0068] FIG. 4A shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a volume element and an internal body, designed as a polygonal frame,

[0069] FIG. 4B shows a schematic view of the volume element together with a stabilizing frame,

[0070] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a volume element and tension elements,

[0071] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a volume element and an outer bladder,

[0072] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a two-shell volume element,

[0073] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a two-shell volume element with a shell frame,

[0074] FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of the shell frame from FIG. 8,

[0075] FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a volume element and shutoff valve,

[0076] FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a replaceable volume element according to a first variant, and

[0077] FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a tank according to the invention having a replaceable volume element according to a second variant.

[0078] The figures show strictly schematic views of a tank 1 that is designed as a fuel tank for a vehicle. The tank 1 includes an outer wall 2 that forms an internal space 3 for receiving the fuel. A volume element 4 is situated in the internal space 3. The volume element 4 is connected to the surroundings via a line 5.

[0079] The volume of the volume element 4 changes as a function of the filling level and/or the internal pressure in the internal space 3, wherein gas, in particular air, is pressed or drawn out of the volume element 4 to the outside via the line 5.

[0080] FIGS. 1 through 10 describe different embodiments of a stabilizing assembly 6. As described in the introductory section, these stabilizing assemblies 6 may be combined with one another. For a clear, straightforward illustration of the various variants of the stabilizing assembly 6, these variants are described individually with reference to the figures, despite the fact that they can be combined with one another.

[0081] It is preferably provided that the stabilizing assembly 6 includes at least one internal body 61-64 in the interior of the volume element 4. Examples of such internal bodies 61-64 are described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

[0082] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the tank 1 having a volume element 4, and an internal body 61 designed as a gas-filled bladder. The gas-filled bladder is elastically deformable. The bladder is situated in the interior of the volume element 4 and is closed, so that the same mass of gas is always present in the bladder. The closed bladder is in particular filled with air.

[0083] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the tank 1 together with a volume element 4 and a flat internal body 62 made of an elastically deformable material. This internal body 62 is not only elastically deformable but also elastically compressible. For this purpose, the internal body 62 is made of an open-pore sponge.

[0084] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the tank 1 having a volume element 4 and a resilient structure as the internal body 63. The resilient structure is elastically deformable. The resilient structure is formed by a deformable hollow body. The hollow body is cylindrical in this case.

[0085] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the tank 1 having a volume element 4 and a flat frame as the internal body 64. The frame has a round or oval shape. The frame is in particular rigid, and thus is not, or essentially not, deformable. The frame in the inflated state of the volume element 4 does not determine the shape of the volume element 4, and merely ensures tightening of the volume element 4 when the volume element 4 is evacuated.

[0086] FIG. 4A shows a schematic view of the tank 1 having a volume element 4 and a flat frame as the internal body 64. The frame has a pentagonal shape. The volume element 4 in the inflated state rests against the frame and presses the sides inwardly during inflation.

[0087] FIG. 4B shows a schematic view of the volume element 4 and a stabilizing frame 69 as the stabilizing assembly 6. The stabilizing frame 69 is fixedly connected to the volume element 4. The stabilizing frame 69 extends around the entire circumference of the volume element 4. The volume element 4 is formed here by two shell-shaped, flexible parts by way of example, the stabilizing frame 69 being situated in the seam region between the two parts.

[0088] The stabilizing frame 69 has a pentagonal shape. The sides are inwardly curved. The volume of the volume element 4 increases in both directions perpendicular to the stabilizing frame 69 during inflation. The stabilizing frame 69 remains essentially dimensionally stable, wherein the inwardly curved sides may be slightly inwardly deformed.

[0089] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the tank 1 having a volume element 4. The stabilizing assembly 6 is formed here by tension elements 65. The tension elements 65 exert a tensile force on the volume element 4, at least when the volume element 4 is evacuated. The volume element 4 is thus drawn flat in the evacuated state.

[0090] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the tank 1 having a volume element 4. The stabilizing assembly 6 is formed by the volume element 4 itself and an outer bladder 66 that encloses the volume element 4. The volume element 4 is designed as an elastic bladder that can contract and expand. The inner bladder that represents the volume element 4 is situated only within the outer bladder 66, and is not flatly joined to the outer bladder 66.

[0091] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the tank 1 having a volume element 4. The stabilizing assembly 6 is formed by a two-shell design of the volume element 4. The volume element 4 thus includes a rigid first shell 671 and a flexible second shell 672. The opening to the line 5 is situated on the rigid first shell 671. The two shells 671, 672 together form the gas-receiving volume of the volume element 4. The rigid shell 671 remains unchanged during the evacuation of the volume element 4, wherein the volume of the flexible shell 672 is reduced.

[0092] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the tank 1 having a volume element 4. The stabilizing assembly 6 is formed by a two-shell design of the volume element 4. The entire volume element 4 is formed by a stretchable bladder, in particular made of an elastomer. The rigid shell 671 results from a rigid shell frame 673 that is fixedly connected to a portion of the bladder. FIG. 9 shows a top view of this shell frame 673. The shell frame 673 has a shell shape. It is provided that such a shell frame 673 is provided on the inner side and/or the outer side of the bladder. The portion of the bladder that does not rest against the shell frame 673 functions here as a flexible shell 672.

[0093] FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of the tank 1 having a volume element 4. The stabilizing assembly 6 is formed by a shutoff valve 681 in the line 5. The stabilizing assembly 6 also includes a control device 682. This control device 682 is designed to close the shutoff valve 681 when the residual volume is reached.

[0094] FIGS. 11 and 12 show schematic views of the tank 1 having a volume element 4. This tank 4 may include no, or one or more of the, described stabilizing assemblies 6.

[0095] The volume element 4 is exchangeably situated in the internal space 3 of the tank 4. For this purpose, the outer wall 2 includes a service opening 9 that is designed for removing and reinserting the volume element 4 from/into the internal space 3.

[0096] According to FIG. 11, the service opening 9 is closed by a cover 10 that is part of the outer wall 2. The line 5 leads through this cover 10. The volume element 4 is preferably fastened only to this cover 10, for example via the line 5. By removing the cover 10, the volume element 4 at the same time is withdrawn from the internal space 3. The new volume element 4 may be attached to the cover 10 and inserted together with the cover.

[0097] The tank 1 according to FIG. 12 includes a connecting element 11 that is actuatable without tools, in the internal space 3 on the line 5. The volume element 4 may be attached to and removed from the line 5, without using a tool, via this connecting element 11. In the design according to FIG. 11, such a connecting element 11 may also be used in the internal space 3 or outside the internal space 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0098] 1 tank [0099] 2 outer wall [0100] 3 internal space [0101] 4 volume element [0102] 5 line [0103] 6 stabilizing assembly [0104] 9 service opening [0105] 10 cover [0106] 11 connecting element [0107] 61 internal body designed as a gas-filled bladder [0108] 62 internal body made of an elastically deformable material [0109] 63 internal body designed as a resilient structure [0110] 64 internal body designed as a frame [0111] 65 tension element [0112] 66 outer bladder [0113] 69 stabilizing frame [0114] 671 rigid first shell [0115] 672 flexible second shell [0116] 673 shell frame [0117] 681 shutoff valve [0118] 682 control device